Elkin Blanketeers

The Elkin Blanketeers were a minor league baseball team based in Elkin, North Carolina from 1949 to 1952. The Elkin Blanketeers were members of the Class D level Blue Ridge League (1949–1950) and North Carolina State League (1951–1952).

Elkin Blanketeers
1949–1952
Elkin, North Carolina
Minor league affiliations
Previous classesClass D (1949–1952)
Previous leagues
Blue Ridge League (1949–1950)
North Carolina State League (1951–1952)
Major league affiliations
Previous teamsNone
Minor league titles
Division titles (1)
  • 1950
Team data
Previous names
Elkin Blanketeers (1949–1952)
Previous parks
Elkin Memorial Park (1949–1952)

History

The Elkin Blanketeers were the first minor league baseball team in Elikn. The minor league team was directly preceded by the local semipro team, the Chatham Blanketeers. The Chatham Manufacturing Company was a primary local business that engaged in the manufacturing of blankets. A top selling product was the wollen "Chatham Blanket," likely leading to the Blanketeers moniker, which Elkin adopted.[1][2][3]

The Elkin Blanketeers began play as members of the Class D Blue Ridge League in 1949. Harvey Laffoon, publisher of The Elkin Tribune newspaper, was a principal owner of the franchise.[1]

The 1949 Elkin Blanketeers ended their first Blue Ridge League season with a 62–65 record. Elikn finished 5th in the six–team Blue Ridge League regular season standings, 6.5 games behind the champion Mt. Airy Graniteers. Wayne Harris served as manager, his first of three seasons managing the team. The minor league Blanketeers continued to play at Elkin Memorial Park and had 1949 season attendance of 33,000, an average of 520 per game.[4][5][1][6][7]

The 1950 Elkin Blanketeers won the Blue Ridge League Pennant in the final season for the league. The Blanketeers ended the 1950 season with a record of 82–32, 1st in the Blue Ridge League regular season standings, under Manager Wayne Harris. Elkin finished 13.5 games ahead of the 2nd place Mt. Airy Graniteers. In the Playoffs, Elkin swept the Galax Leafs in three games. In the Finals, the Mount Airy Graniteers swept the Elkin Blanketeers in four games. Season attendance at Elkin Memorial Park was 21,578 an average of 379. The Blue Ridge League folded after the 1950 season, as did the Elkin franchise.[8][9][1][6][10]

In mid-season 1951, the Elkin Blanketeers were revived. The Landis Spinners of the Class D North Carolina State League relocated to Elkin on July 18, 1951 and the Elkin Blanketeers began play again. The Landis Spinners had a 44–36 record at the time of the move.[11][12]

The 1951 Landis Spinners/Elkin Blanketeers team finished the North Carolina State League regular season with an overall record of 67–59, 3rd in the eight–team league, 23.0 games behind the champion High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms. Fred Chapman served as manager in both locations. In the 1951 Playoffs, High Point-Thomasville defeated Landis/Elkin 4 games to 1. Overall season attendance was 22,780.[11][13][1][14][15][16]

In their final season, The 1952 Elkin Blanketeers finished with a record of 45–64. Elkin finished 4th in the North Carolina State League standings, which had reduced to six teams. Wayne Harris returned as the manager. In the Playoffs, the Mooresville Moors defeated Elkin Blanketeers 4 games to 1. The final season of minor league play Elkin Memorial Park saw season attendance of 16,322, an average of 299 per contest. The North Carolina State League permanently folded after the 1952 season. Elkin has not hosted another minor league franchise.[11][17][1][18][19][20]

The ballpark

The Elkin Blanketeers played at Elkin Memorial Park. The ballpark had a capacity of 1,500 (1950). In 1950, the ballpark hosted the wedding of Blanketeers player Shorty Brown, who married Jo Barnette at home plate. Elkin Memorial Park was located at Memorial Park Drive & James Street, Elkin, North Carolina.[5][21]

Notable alumni

Year–by–year records
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/Notes
194962–657thWayne HarrisNone
195082–321stWayne HarrisLost League Finals
195167–59*3rdFred ChapmanLost in 1st Round. *Landis (44-36) moved to Elkin July 18
195245–644thWayne HarrisLost in 1st Round

Timeline
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeague
1949–19502Elkin BlanketeersClass DBlue Ridge League
1951–19522North Carolina State League

References
  1. "Elkin Blanketeers - BR Bullpen". baseball-reference.com.
  2. "Chatham Blanketeer Textile Newsletter Now Available Online".
  3. "Chatham Manufacturing was engine that drove Town of Elkin for over a century". journalpatriot.
  4. "1949 Blue Ridge League (BRL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". statscrew.com.
  5. "1949 Elkin Blanketeers Roster on StatsCrew.com". statscrew.com.
  6. "Blue Ridge League - BR Bullpen". baseball-reference.com.
  7. "1949 Elkin Blanketeers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  8. "1950 Elkin Blanketeers Roster on StatsCrew.com". statscrew.com.
  9. "1950 Blue Ridge League (BRL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". statscrew.com.
  10. "Blue Ridge League (D) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  11. "North Carolina State League - BR Bullpen". baseball-reference.com.
  12. Reichard, Kevin (November 5, 2008). "North Carolina State League".
  13. "1951 North Carolina State League (NCSL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". statscrew.com.
  14. "1951 Landis Spinners/Elkin Blanketeers Roster on StatsCrew.com". statscrew.com.
  15. "1951 Landis Spinners/Elkin Blanketeers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  16. Whisenant, David. "Play Ball! South Rowan baseball exhibit opens Saturday at Roller Mill". wbtv.com.
  17. "1952 North Carolina State League (NCSL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". statscrew.com.
  18. "1952 Elkin Blanketeers Roster on StatsCrew.com". statscrew.com.
  19. "North Carolina State League (D) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  20. "1952 Elkin Blanketeers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  21. Ballard, Chris. "THE INVISIBLE FASTBALL". Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com.

See also

Elkin Blanketeers players

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